Starting with the 4th of July!
Gee-whiz, I am just now sitting down at my computer to catch up on emails, posts and such, returning from the long 4th of July weekend! Me and my family headed down to one of my favorite places on earth "The Shady Dell" vintage trailer court in Bisbee, AZ. I know I have mentioned our trips there many times before in my posts, but I just can never get enough of that darling little place. Plus the fact that it's only an hour and half drive from Tucson, makes it really convenient for us! Jennifer & Justin host a 4th of July BBQ every year, and it was oodles of good old fashioned fun! Very small town nostalgic Americana! I did manage to get some pictures, not as many as I would have liked, but I have said it before. I am not a really good photographer, don't have a fancy camera, and wish that I was better about being conscious to take candid pics, since those always turn out so much better that the planned ones. I also borrowed a few from some friends who took pics on site, better than mine! Anyway I have a few to share...
Just a few days before we headed out, I sewed up a quick crop top from a 1950's pattern, to match a pair of later 50's dead-stock, high-waist capri pants, that I hadn't had the chance to wear yet. They are white with a red, white & blue strip down either side of the legs. For the top, I found a cute fabric that had a vintage aesthetic to it, it was red with a small white star motif all over. I wanted something patriotic, but not over the top. The pattern called for a ribbon tie front, so I was very pleased to find a ribbon reel at the local fabric store, that perfectly matched the stripe on my pants.
Standing outside our trailer at The Shady Dell!
(It was a little windy, so my hair and allergies had a little tantrum ha!)
I am getting ahead of myself though, just wanted to show a pic of my top. Let me back up, before all of the fun on the 4th of July. We actually headed down there the day before to settle in, check out the pre-screening of soapbox derby racer cars, that were lined up for the Independence Day race in the morning. Then have a nice dinner out on the town, with our friends. It was a beautiful clear night, and much cooler in Bisbee, then in Tucson!
Here is the dress I wore for dinner, A cute little 1940's blue linen with embroidered little Mexican motif's all over it! and a few other pics from the evening....
My second favorite box car, after the Shady Dell's. It was so cute, the third sardine in the can, was the driver wearing her tin foiled wrapped helmet, so creative!
Just hanging out, people watching and eating a hot dog...
The "only in Bisbee" trophies on display for the mornings race!
Me and Jen standing next to The Shady Dell's Shasta trailer soapbox car! It looks exactly like a mini version of their real one, incredible!
Enjoying a nice evening, eating dinner outside in the cool Bisbee air and drinking some sangria's!
(Romeo took this pic, he is a better photographer than I am-ha!)
Bright and early the next morning it was off to the races, and we anxiously awaited for Justin to come down the winding down hill road of Bisbee's Main St., scared to death for him, because he had no perifial vision in the Shasta car. Must explain why he got the trophy for most likely death trap! He did a good job coming in fourth place though, not bad for his first race! Here's a few pics of the race day (4th of July)...
Waiting at the finish line!
Another really cute and creative soapbox car! (2nd Place)
Romeo said the Shasta was just his size and he wants Justin to fix it up inside, so he can stay in it when we come visit!
Immediately after the race, it was onto watch the parade in the park, and then back to The Shady Dell to get the food prepared for the afternoon BBQ.
A darling little house we walked by on the way to the park, it's for sale, and I want it as a weekend or summer home getaway for now, until retirement time-ha,ha!
I made a yummy pasta and fruit salad, and Romeo snapped a pic of me just as I was getting ready to take out the marshmallows for the fruit salad, he took out a few as usual......
Unexpected hugs are the best!
Of course I recruited my husband to take a quick posed shot hamming it up, by our trailer....
(a 1951 Spartan Mansion)
Then it was time for the long anticipated BBQ, old fashioned good times, good food, music, games and a watermelon eating contest, that Romeo managed to come in 2nd, up against a bunch of adults, not bad eh?
So full, and off to get the watermelon juice hosed down on a hot day!
Justin was going to be the next target!
Taking a nice rest, after all the action! Then as soon as the sky went dark, it was off to watch the fireworks light of the sky! We had a prime view from the house of a friend of Jen & Justin's. It was literally right under the mountain where the fireworks shot off from. We lied on our backs, and they were right over us, so close, amazing and memorizing! Romeo's eyes were definitely lit up like the 4th of July!
Unfortunately, by this time, the battery in my camera had crashed, and I couldn't locate any pics from others showing the firework display. Oh well! Maybe some will surface at a later time....
After the fabulous firework show, we headed back to hang out in our darling little trailer for the night, continued munching on food and drinks, engage in good conversations and play cards, much like the forms of entertainment in the good old days! It was a cozy feeling, and we really enjoyed the time together as a family, leaving the fast paced world for a few days.
We couldn't have asked for a better time! It was so much fun and is what spending the 4th of July together as a family is all about. Simple good old fashioned times with good people! Thank you Shady Dell, for yet another fantastic time!
